Surgical instrument battery comprising a plurality of cells

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs may comprise a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells may not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs may comprise a switch or other mechanism for interconnecting the plurality of cells and may also comprise, or be used in conjunction with, a discharge switch or plug configured to electrically connect an anode of the battery pack to a cathode of the battery pack, for example, via a resistive element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical instrument system, comprising:
 a surgical instrument comprising an open electrical circuit; and   a battery pack, comprising:
 a first battery cell; and 
 a second battery cell, wherein the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument is configured to close said electrical circuit and electrically couple said first battery cell to said second battery cell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 1 , wherein said surgical instrument comprises a handle, wherein said handle comprises a cavity, and wherein said battery pack is at least partially insertable into said cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 1 , wherein said battery pack further comprises a third battery cell in electrical communication with said first battery cell prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 3 , wherein said battery pack further comprises a fourth battery cell in electrical communication with said second battery cell prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain configured to place said first battery cell in electrical communication with said second battery cell when said battery pack is assembled to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 1 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from said shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 1 , further comprising a staple cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . A surgical instrument system, comprising:
 a surgical instrument, comprising:
 a first electrical contact; and 
 a second electrical contact; and 
   a battery pack, comprising:
 a first independent battery cell; and 
 a second independent battery cell, wherein the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument is configured to place said first independent battery cell in electrical communication with said first contact, said second independent battery cell in electrical communication with said second contact, and said first independent battery cell in electrical communication with said second independent battery cell. 
   
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 8 , wherein said surgical instrument comprises a handle, wherein said handle comprises a cavity, and wherein said battery pack is at least partially insertable into said cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 8 , wherein said battery pack further comprises a third battery cell in electrical communication with said first independent battery cell prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 10 , wherein said battery pack further comprises a fourth battery cell in electrical communication with said second independent battery cell prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 8 , further comprising a drain configured to place said first independent battery cell in electrical communication with said second independent battery cell when said battery pack is assembled to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 8 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from said shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 8 , further comprising a staple cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . A surgical instrument system, comprising:
 a surgical instrument comprising an open electrical circuit; and   a battery pack, comprising:
 a first battery; and 
 a second battery, wherein the assembly of said battery pack to electrically couple said first battery to said second battery. 
   
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 15 , wherein said surgical instrument comprises a handle, wherein said handle comprises a cavity, and wherein said battery pack is at least partially insertable into said cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 15 , wherein said battery pack further comprises a third battery in electrical communication with said first battery prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 17 , wherein said battery pack further comprises a fourth battery cell in electrical communication with said second battery cell to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 15 , further comprising a drain configured to place said first battery in electrical communication with said second battery when said battery pack is assembled to said surgical instrument. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument system of  claim 15 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from said shaft.